A Brief History of Vatican II by Giuseppe Alberigo

by Giuseppe Alberigo

By the doyen of Vatican II studies, this book illuminates the key events and meaning of the most important religious event of the twentieth century.The Second Vatican Council, summoned by Pope John XXIII on Christmas day 1961, began in October 1962. Meeting in four autumn sessions from 1962 to 1965, Pope John's Council was a watershed in both world Christian and world religious history.With brevity and insight, Giuseppe Alberigo tells the story of Vatican II Council for a generation that has come of age since its close. He shows us a Council that Pope John called to renew not just the church but Christianity as a whole. He shows that that vision was realized in ways far beyond its participants' ability to understand.

Genres: Religion, History, Theology, Church History, Catholic, Italy

Paperback

First published April 30, 2006

Reviews

[Tom Willis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read, very informative and enlightening. Not enough is know about this critical period in the Church's history. As I learn more about it I am continually astonished at how timely it was, and how it succeeded despite so many opportunities to fall apart. They say that it takes about 50 years to see what a Council has really accomplished, and I think we are seeing the fruits of Vatican II today. The book was a bit dry and played fast and loose with names and dates. It probably could have been handled a bit more concisely. The translation was very clear, however.

[Sam Honeycutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

ALBERIGO worked with a group before and during Vatican Council II. He is the best one to write a history. This is the short history, but he also was one of the authors of a five volume history published by Or is.

[M. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Es bueno para la información general, pero no en lo que respecta a la política. Diré "política" para que aquellos que no sean católicos puedan entender. Todos los concilios de la Iglesia establecen precedentes, dan aclaraciones, de modo que los concilios están unidos entre sí y no pueden contradecirse a sí mismos, y mucho menos contradecir las Escrituras y la Tradición.

Este libro ha sido acusado por un sacerdote italiano de hacer exactamente esto : promover una hermenéutica de discontinuidad entre este Concilo y los demás (que es algo que tanto los progresistas como los tradicionalistas-sedevacantistas hacen, aunque por diferentes razones), y se nota en la forma en que el autor acusa a algunos de ser conservadores , una minoría rígida y de mente cerrada que todavía prefiere la protección de esquemas antiguos como la monarquía.

[Earl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This rather brief version of the multi-volume History of the Second Vatican Council covered what we need to know about the important events and persons that steered the Council. A must-read, I believe, for those who seriously consider and live out the fruits of the Council.

[Danna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for a book report - not my favorite style of summary, but it did encourage me to want to read a different type of summary so…. That works too

[Gil Michelini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent introduction to the people and the events of greatest event in the history of the Church during the 20th century.